Bella Italia has never been shy about its love affair with pasta, but this World Pasta Day it’s proving there’s a little more heart behind the parmesan and pomodoro. On 15 October, Bella Italia is hosting Bring Your Own Pasta Day, an initiative that trades carbs for kindness—literally.
In a move that blends generosity with good old-fashioned Italian hospitality, Bella Italia is offering diners a free main pasta dish in exchange for bringing an unopened packet of dried pasta to their local restaurant. Those packets will then be donated directly to food banks across the UK to support families struggling with the rising cost of living.
No gimmicks, no fine print trickery—just pasta with purpose.
A hearty idea with humble beginnings
The concept couldn’t be simpler: bring pasta, get pasta. Guests who donate a pack of dried pasta (think fusilli, penne, spaghetti—none of that quinoa nonsense) will receive a free main pasta dish worth up to £15.
It’s a neat little circle of culinary karma. One dish feeds one person, and one packet of pasta could feed a family of four. Suddenly, dinner out becomes dinner shared.
Bella Italia has always shamelessly worshipped pasta—its creamy carbonara, beef ragù, spicy arrabbiata, and lasagne have been pulling people back through the doors for decades. Now, those signature plates are being used for something bigger than dinner.
A Bella Italia spokesperson said: “Bella Italia has always been about more than just great food it’s about family, connection, and community. Pasta is at the heart of what we do, and we know how much comfort and happiness it brings to our guests.
With Bring Your Own Pasta, we want to use that same comfort to reach further, supporting local food banks that are a lifeline for so many families right now. By joining us for a meal and bringing along a simple packet of pasta, our guests can help us spread a little more kindness across the country.”
Hard to argue with that. In a world full of corporate campaigns that feel about as sincere as a politician on payday, this one actually lands.
The details (before someone asks)
Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025
Where: Participating Bella Italia restaurants across the UK
How it works: Bring an unopened pack of pasta + buy at least one item = get a free pasta main (cheapest one if there are multiple)
Group size: Tables of up to six people can take part
Fine print: Dine-in only. No takeaway, delivery or click-and-collect. Can’t be stacked with vouchers, set menus or other offers. Menu availability may vary.
Exclusions: Not running at Centre Parcs locations, Edinburgh Northbridge, London Paddington, Leicester Wigston or Dover
The classy clause: Bella Italia can tweak or withdraw the offer if someone tries to get clever with it
Pasta with purpose
With over 70 restaurants nationwide, Bella Italia has always been in the business of bringing people together around the table. Now, with Bring Your Own Pasta Day, that table is extending out into the community—reaching people who might not otherwise get a warm plate at the end of the day.
It’s simple. It’s human. And it’s proof that sometimes kindness really does come in small portions—250 grams at a time.
So if you fancy a bowl of carbonara and a chance to do something useful on World Pasta Day, grab a pack of pasta, head to Bella Italia, and put your carbs to good use.
Someone else’s dinner might just depend on it.
Dining and Cooking